The Wine

We started with the Big Block of Chardonnay at Justice Vineyard. Planted in 1999 to the Dijon selections 76 and 95, this block yields wines that are vast in every way, deep and sprawling. Even in a moderately cool vintage like 2019 the wine was pleading to be tempered with mercy. We tried blending it with everything we had in the cellar until we finally came to the old Bethel Heights Wente selection, the complete opposite of the 2019 Justice in every way—high toned, sleek and acidic. Justice tempered with Wente is a combination we had never tried before, but it worked.

“… earthly power doth then show likest God’s

When mercy seasons justice.” – Portia in The Merchant of Venice

Learn more about this lot during Preview Week, when Pat Dudley of Bethel Heights will represent this lot during a virtual tasting session on July 26 as a member of the Auction Steering Committee. Register here.

The WInery

Bethel Heights Vineyard was established in 1977 in the Eola-Amity Hills by Ted Casteel, Terry Casteel, Pat Dudley and Marilyn Webb. In 2006 Ben Casteel, son of Terry and Marilyn, took over from his father as winemaker. Over the last forty years Bethel Heights has grown and evolved, but the original fifty acres of own-rooted Pinot noir and Chardonnay vines planted in the 1970s continue to provide the backbone of our estate-grown wines. Gnarly old vines, geologically complex hillside soils and direct impact from Æolian winds—all conspire to create highly energized wines with depth of character and distinctive personalities.

All wine is sold FOB the location of the winery that produced the lot purchased. WVWA is not responsible for shipping wine. Shipping or delivery arrangements, expenses and insurance are the sole responsibility of the purchaser. Any shipment of wines out-of-state is the responsibility of the purchaser, who is solely responsible for compliance with the laws and regulations of said state.

The producing winery currently has distribution in the below listed countries and states. A list of distributors is available upon request.

CA: AB, BC, ON, QC

DK

UK

USA: AZ, AL, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI